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picayune Definition

☆ pica·yune (pik′ə yo̵̅o̅n′, pik′ə yo̵̅o̅n′)

noun

  1. a coin of small value, as a former Spanish half-real of Louisiana
  2. anything trivial

Etymology: Fr picaillon, small coin, halfpenny < Prov picaioun < picaio, money, prob. < pica, to ring, jingle, strike < VL *piccare: see picador

adjective

trivial or petty; small or small-minded
also picayunish pic′a·yun′·ish
picayune Synonyms

picayune

modif.

trivial, petty, small; see trivial, unimportant.

picayune Quotes

The economic services that it can render are picayune compared to the moral effect that it produces, and its true function is to create in two or more persons a feeling of solidarity.

—Durkheim, EŁ  mile

Browse dictionary entries near picayune

  1. ‹ Picasso
  2. ‹ picaros
  3. ‹ picaroon
  4. ‹ picaro
  5. ‹ picaresque
  6. ‹ Picardy
  7. ‹ Picardie
  8. ‹ picante
  9. ‹ picadors
  10. ‹ picadores
  1. picayunish ›
  2. Piccadilly ›
  3. piccalilli ›
  4. piccaninnies ›
  5. piccaninny ›
  6. Piccard ›
  7. piccata ›
  8. piccolo ›
  9. piccoloist ›
  10. piccolos ›